Childhood Leukemia treatment is one of the most common malignancies seen across the globe in the pediatric age group. Severe Hemophilia A is still considered a rare bleeding disorder. Only 13 patients with hemophilia A or B have been reported in literature to also be
diagnosed with acute leukemia in childhood .
This rarity appeared again in a 13 year boy with severe hemophilia A who presented with worsening bone pain and joint swelling, weight loss and
leukocytosis. Morphology and molecular diagnostics confirmed Acute Pre B Lymphoblastic Leukemia . The patient happens to be the first case of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a patient with severe Hemophilia with Inhibitors.
Severe hemophilia with inhibitors pose challenge in clinical management given their propensity of bleeding and poor response to traditional therapies due to a neutralizing antibody as is. Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia requires an intensive treatment with systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy. Medications are commonly administered through a central line, in many cases an implantable catheter.
Coexistence of both these life threatening disorders posed a unique practical challenge in providing standard care and our discussion aims at highlighting strategies in management of Severe Hemophilia in challenging clinical scenarios.
No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Author notes
Asterisk with author names denotes non-ASH members.
